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Mayor’s Chief of Staff Exits And Why You Should Care

@JacobDirr — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:25:23 +0000

Casual observers of city hall, at first glance, might take little notice that Mark Nathan, Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s chief of staff, has announced his departure. But it is a noteworthy event whenever an executive politician’s chief of staff exits. A chief of staff is the one who gets stuff done, while their boss is smiling [...]

Mayor’s Chief of Staff Exits And Why You Should Care

A Tale Of Two Hotels

@JacobDirr — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:12:23 +0000

Anyone listening in at City Hall might have heard city staff remind city council not to call the new hotel hotels being pitched downtown a “convention hotel.” If you are wondering why, check out this story I wrote while at the Austin Business Journal in December. It is curious why this point has been overlooked [...]

A Tale Of Two Hotels

Mega Hotel Subsidy Draws Fire From Austin Council

@JacobDirr — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:51:24 +0000

It seems that having Armbrust & Brown attorney Richard Suttle as the representative of the hotel developers I wrote about Monday may be a little too hot for some council members to handle. On Tuesday morning, Council Members Bill Spelman, Sheryl Cole and Laura Morrison seemed skeptical that his clients need almost $4 million in [...]

Mega Hotel Subsidy Draws Fire From Austin Council

Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

@JacobDirr — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:01:46 +0000

NEWS FLASH: According to a source at City Hall, the Austin Transportation Department is slated to give a big presentation June 14 that will be “a substantial briefing” on urban rail and begins to start answering Uncle Lee’s 30 crucial questions and “then some.” The mayor has pushed a 2012 bond election funding a first [...]

Mega Presentation On Urban Rail Tuesday

Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

@JacobDirr — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:13:48 +0000

There were more bike thefts reported in the heart of downtown Austin during the first five months of 2011, compared to 2010, according to city police records I compiled. However, reports are down in the South Congress area. I know this because I decided to do my best Council Member Chris Riley impression — sans [...]

Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

5 MAJOR ISSUES OF CONCERN ABOUT THE “BOARDWALK” PROJECT

Fred Schmidt — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:01:05 +0000

Part 2 of 2 Parts (click here to read Part 1 – The Overview of the project and its design) 1. It is not a “boardwalk”. Look closely. It is an elevated concrete human highway. 14-feet wide, 6-feet above the water, up to 70 feet out from shore. Built of concrete and steel. Out over [...]

5 MAJOR ISSUES OF CONCERN ABOUT THE “BOARDWALK” PROJECT

A Concrete Human Highway IN Our River? No. YES! And Why You Oughtta Care

Fred Schmidt — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:04:32 +0000

Part 1 of 2 Parts – The Overview If you browsed the Austin American-Statesman or Austin Business Journal yesterday, no doubt you saw the headlines: “$16 million boardwalk leads Austin bond proposal. City releases draft list of $84.8 million in transportation projects for possible November election.” (AAS) “City unveils $85M bond package” (ABJ) At first [...]

A Concrete Human Highway IN Our River? No. YES! And Why You Oughtta Care

Sundance and SXSW Considering "Echotone": A "Cultural Portrait" of Austin Music and Downtown Development

Benjamin Gustafsson — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:25:41 +0000

If Nathan Christ’s documentary “Echotone,” a low-budget film about the combustion of Austin’s booming inner-city development and its rocking music scene breaks through the final selection at the Sundance Film Festival, prepare for the nation’s eyes to fix again on the “Music Capital of the World.”

Sundance and SXSW Considering "Echotone": A "Cultural Portrait" of Austin Music and Downtown Development

Density Bonus Program Stalls

Jude Galligan — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:28:23 +0000

For better or for worse, ROMA’s density bonus recommendations aren’t likely to be adopted anytime soon. The Planning Commission believes that not all party’s concerns have been addressed and they are requesting a four-month review period. My experience with the density bonus recommendations is that ROMA and the City’s Planning and Development Review Department went [...]

Density Bonus Program Stalls

Mayor Leffingwell's State Of Downtown Austin Address

Jude Galligan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:44 +0000

The Mayor recognizes that growing Austin's downtown is not at odds with preserving Austin's character

Mayor Leffingwell's State Of Downtown Austin Address

City Hires Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Director

Jude Galligan — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:27:42 +0000

According the City’s press release, Kevin Johns, was recently appointed to be “responsible for implementing economic programs that foster jobs and nurture Austin’s creative industries.” Judging by that title, Kevin’s role in the future of Austin could have big impact. What’s interesting to me is how much media coverage is given to how tall [...]

City Hires Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Director

Statesman Endorsements for Austin Mayoral and City Council Races

Jude Galligan — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:09:43 +0000

On Sunday, the Austin American Statesman released their endorsements: Brewster McCracken, Chris Riley, Bill Spelman, Mike Martinez, and Sheryl Cole. /link to drafthouse [just because ] Statesman Endorsements for Austin Mayoral and City Council Races

Statesman Endorsements for Austin Mayoral and City Council Races

Chris Riley Has Broad Support Throughout Austin

Jude Galligan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:01:47 +0000

DANA board member Greg Anderson - “I think out of all the candidates running, Chris best understands the problems which we as a society are facing. Chris understands the need for sustainable communities: walkable, dense and vibrant places where there are options other than driving.” Chris Riley continues to pick up a breadth of community [...]

Chris Riley Has Broad Support Throughout Austin

Single Member Districts

Jude Galligan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:20:14 +0000

State Senator Jeff Wentworth is sponsoring Senate Bill 1618 which would mandate single-member districts for municipalities with more than 500,000 people. Austin City Council has called a special session today to hear from staff and legal council.

Single Member Districts

David Buttross and Affordable Housing

Jude Galligan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:37:21 +0000

I met David Buttross for the first time this past Saturday at the Urban is Core candidate forum. At the dais, David’s responses were refreshingly crisp and practical. Now, those won’t win him an Austin mayoral election, but the benefit of ‘underdog’ candidates, especially those who are as successful as David is, is to reality [...]

David Buttross and Affordable Housing